A brutal russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih, increased terror against the civilian population, deprivation of identity of Ukrainian children, large-scale and systematic human rights violations in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, in particular in Crimea, all of this requires particular attention, condemnation and a clear public reaction from the OSCE and its institutions.
Olena Kondratiuk, Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, made this point during a meeting in the Parliament with Christophe Camp, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.
The Vice Speaker emphasised the unprecedented violation by russia the rights of 1.6 million Ukrainian children living in the temporarily occupied territories.
«The abduction and forced adoption of children, their mass militarisation and preparation for war against their native country, deprivation of Ukrainian identity, complete disregard for their language, educational and cultural rights - all of this is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions, signs of genocide and a deliberate state policy of the aggressor country,» said Olena Kondratiuk.
In addition, she noted that she had raised this issue during the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's winter session in Vienna. Olena Kondratiuk called upon the High Commissioner to focus on the absolutely unacceptable practice of changing the identity and militarisation of Ukrainian children by the russian federation, and to use the so-called "Moscow mechanism" of the OSCE to monitor the observance of the rights and freedoms of 1.6 million Ukrainian children in the temporarily occupied territories.
«This is extremely important in the context of the upcoming peace talks, which should be preconditioned by the discharge of all political prisoners, the return of captives and children. A just peace is also impossible without the inevitable punishment of all those involved in war crimes, genocide and human rights violations committed by the Russian occupiers,» the Vice Speaker said.
She took the opportunity to congratulate Christophe Camp on his recent appointment and noted the fruitful cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner in providing expert support for reforms aimed at ensuring the rights of national minorities and communities in Ukraine in line with European standards.
«At the legislative level, the Verkhovna Rada is doing everything possible to achieve this. In particular, the Law «On National Minorities (Communities)» and relevant amendments to the Law «On Education» were adopted. These efforts have been highly appreciated by the European Commission and have become the basis for the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU,» Olena Kondratiuk said.
She also supported the approach of the newly appointed High Commissioner on the need to depoliticise issues related to the rights of national minorities, in particular in relations between Ukraine and Hungary.